Association between relationship characteristics, sexual health attitudes, and dual contraceptive use among young adult college students aged 18–24

Abstract

Objective Determine the relationship characteristics, sexual health attitudes, and demographic factors associated with dual contraceptive use among college students. Participants: September–October 2018 via campus email, we recruited College of Public Health students attending a large, urban, public university (N = 424). Methods: Respondents completed a cross-sectional, Web-based sexual health questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Multiple logistic regression models were run to determine the association between relationship characteristics, pregnancy and condom attitudes, demographics, and dual use the last time having sex. Results: In independent models, one-unit increase in trust (aOR = 0.982; 95% CI: 0.966–0.998) and commitment score (aOR = 0.987, 95% CI: 0.976–0.999) was inversely associated with dual use while sex with a casual date/acquaintance (aOR = 3.149; 95% CI: 1.550–6.397) was positively associated. In a fully adjusted model for all correlates, only trust score was significant (aOR = 0.982; 95% CI: 0.966, 0.998). Conclusions: Emotion-based constructs may be more influential on dual use behaviors than discrete relationship factors.